Around the Blogosphere This Week

Miscellaneous bits of news and fun stuff from around the Internet...

...Just got a copy of the 2009 book PALM SPRINGS HOLIDAY by Peter Moruzzi, which has a fantastic assortment of photos of mid-century Palm Springs. I became interested in adding this title to my collection of books on Southern California after seeing the Palm Springs location shooting in THE DAMNED DON'T CRY (1950) and 711 OCEAN DRIVE (1950).

...Dear Old Hollywood takes a look at the Sierra Madre, California locations of STRANGE INTRUDER (1956), starring Ida Lupino and Edmund Purdom.

...APACHE DRUMS (1951) sounds really interesting, a Val Lewton Western with what sounds like a marvelous action sequence near the end. It stars Stephen McNally and Coleen Gray, directed by Hugo Fregonese. You can read Colin's review at Riding the High Country.

...Greenbriar Picture Shows has a terrific photo essay on LLOYDS OF LONDON (1936), the film which first made Tyrone Power a star.

...A number of classic film bloggers had the chance to see TCM's satellite presentation of Hitchcock's THE BIRDS (1963) last Wednesday night. Check out the reviews by Raquelle at Out of the Past, Deb at Sidewalk Crossings, and Stephen at Classic Movie Man.

...I was glad Paul of Lasso the Movies enjoyed RAWHIDE (1951), an excellent Western starring Tyrone Power and Susan Hayward.

...Lou Lumenick reports that Robert Osborne will be cutting back on his on-air duties for Turner Classic Movies starting this fall.

...Here's a terrific new peek at LES MISERABLES (2012), which will be released this Christmas. As a fan of musicals from way back, I don't dig the filmmakers dissing singing to a prerecorded track -- does anyone really care Julie Andrews didn't sing "The hills are alive" live? -- but they used an interesting process in order to sing on set as the cameras rolled. More importantly, the clips are stunning and portend a very, very good movie coming our way.

...Another interesting upcoming film: HITCHCOCK (2012), starring Anthony Hopkins and Helen Mirren as Alfred and Alma Hitchcock. Scarlett Johansson and Danny Huston costar.

...Over at Sidewalk Crossings, Deb reviews a Stewart Granger film I haven't seen yet, MADONNA OF THE SEVEN MOONS (1945). Granger's frequent Gainsborough costars, Phyllis Calvert and Patricia Roc, also appear in the film.

...The New York Times ran a lovely tribute to some of my favorite children's books a few days ago, the BETSY-TACY series by Maud Hart Lovelace.

...I enjoyed Kim Morgan's thoughts on Robert Montgomery and RAGE IN HEAVEN (1941) at Sunset Gun: "He might be a genius."

...I'm looking forward to seeing Clint Eastwood and Amy Adams in TROUBLE WITH THE CURVE (2012), which received positive reviews from both Leonard Maltin and Kenneth Turan at the Los Angeles Times.

...Notable Passing: Character actor John Ingle, who succeeded longtime GENERAL HOSPITAL actor David Lewis as patriarch Edward Quartermaine and ended up playing the role even longer than Lewis, passed on September 16th at the age of 84. Ingle's last episode of the show, after a run of two decades, aired on September 11th. He's pictured here with his longtime costar Anna Lee, who passed away back in 2004. Ingle was also a teacher of many well-known actors at Hollywood High School. He will be missed.

...Sure wish I could have attended the 50th anniversary celebration for the TV series THE VIRGINIAN (1962-71) at the Autry this weekend!

...Attention Southern Californians: I remember seeing Matthew Broderick and Ally Sheedy in WAR GAMES (1983) when it first came out. It's funny to think about how primitive the computers seem three decades later! The movie is playing at the Egyptian this Thursday, September 27th, with director John Badham in attendance.

Have a great week!